• The 17th Spare the Air alert of the winter season was issued for New Year’s Day. Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle
Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle
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The 17th Spare the Air alert of the winter season was issued for New Year’s Day.
The 17th Spare the Air alert of the winter season was issued for New Year’s Day.
Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle
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The first day of 2018 will be the 17th Spare the Air day of the Bay Area winter season.

The alert for Monday, announced by the Bay Area Quality Management District, will remain in effect for 24 hours. People may not burn wood or other solid fuels, indoors or outdoors.

During the winter season, which is from Nov. 1 to Feb. 28, wood smoke is the largest source of air pollution in the Bay Area, according to the district.

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The Bay Area is one of the worst regions in the country for air quality. What are the Spare the Air days that get issued so frequently? Here's an explainer.

Media: Ted Andersen / SFGATE

This has been one of the driest Decembers for the region on record. The dry weather contributes to the hazy conditions that trigger air quality alerts.

But starting Wednesday, rain showers are forecast and may continue sporadically throughout the rest of the week, said Steve Anderson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani